Children

My devotions today had me in Deuteronomy 6:1-9. It hit me hard when I considered the Lord’s words to impress his commands upon the hearts of our children. Continuing, we are to talk about the Lord’s commands with our children at home, when traveling, when we wake, and we go to sleep. Pretty much all the time. What am I doing to make God a part of my children’s lives? What am I doing to give them the best opportunity to accept and follow God all the days of their life?

I am very grateful for one thing. My children are young. I have time to intentionally bring God more into their lives.

Anyone out there got any good ideas for making God a greater part of young children’s lives without shoving God down their throats in a way that chokes them? If you do, leave a comment.

Hearing the Call

Just another thought from the missions trip. While we were in Toledo, some of the pastors prayed some pretty incredible things over some of my youth. Now, before any one gets excited, we instructed our youth to pray about what the pastors felt God leading them to say. If God really wants it to happen, he will begin speaking it to the hearts of the youth. The amazing thing, for many of the youth the pastors were praying as if each individual youth’s life was laid open before them. They were praying some specific things that made Kelly and my eyes almost pop out. Dead on accurate. And really, why not? The Holy Spirit is with us and guiding us.

Why all the preface? One of our youth was told that God was calling them to the ministry. It’s one that I believe God has been doing some great things in. Then, later that day, someone else told that youth that they really felt that they would wind up in China some day to save a girl. Maybe missions, maybe adoption, but being used by God. We’ve strongly instructed that youth to pray and wait for God to make it real, but I can really see it in them.

Another one of my youth was told that they were going to be bold. Later that day, the same youth was told that they were going to be the second greatest preacher that the person had ever heard.

What’s it mean? I think God hasn’t given up on this generation. God is still working and calling people to be his own.

We’ll all keep praying and seeking the Lord. I’m excited to see what might happen.

The Diet

It’s been a long time since I recorded about my diet. Well, I sort of quit before Novemeber, but I just picked it up again. Good news, my recorded low on this blog was 230. As you can see, my weight as of yesterday is 231.4. At least I haven’t gained it all back. That would be a little depressing. I’m hitting hard though. First major goal is to hit below 220. Then, down below 200. The saddest part? I had the flu about two months ago and when it was over I was around 223. So close. Anyway, I’ll get there.

Oh, we bought a new digital scale. No more “interpreting” the dial to make yourself feel better.

UPDATE: Looking back, I saw a tiny entry that said 228. Oops.

I'm Back

To say it’s been awhile since I wrote is an understatement. I do have an excuse though. I was busy. Poor excuse I know, but it’s all I’ve got. In my defense, I did spend last week away on a missions trip with my youth. The week before that was largely spent in preparation for the trip, and let’s not forget that I also preached the day before we left. Time was spent getting ready frt that. So, my reason for being lazy in my writing is the fact that I was busy. Now, on to better things.

The missions trip was incredible. Hands down I think it was a lot better than last year. Once again we ventured to Solid Rock Ministries in Toledo. Our schedule for the week was divided among many things. We helped someone that desperately needed help move to a new house, we sorted and passed out clothes, we helped in a Vacation Bible School, we fed children, we talked with people, we went door to door, we helped a pastor of another church clean and scrub his building in preparation for what he believes God is going to do, we carried tables, speakers, chairs, and used them to minister to people at a block party.

I plan on writing some more details over the next few days. But, I want to at least give a quick overview. Several of my youth had the opportunity to lead someone to the Lord. One of our young ladies led a lady (not a child) at the block party to Jesus. One of my youth believes he was healed of cancer (I’m agreeing with him, but more importantly his spirit was healed). One of my young men said that he had been suffering from depression and that after we prayed it was gone. I believe at least two of my students are being called into the ministry. They need to wrestle with the Lord about it, but it really appears that way.

So enough for now. I’ll shoot for more in depth as the week continues.

Oh, there are a bunch of photos and even videos over at our youth website. Why not check them out.

Goodbye Depression

I wanted to relate some if the powerful things that happened in the lives of my youth on the missions trip here. Hopefully, I’ll be getting them to write out what God did for them so I can post those on the youth site. So, until that I’ll try to keep my testimonies here anonymous.

One of my youth struggled a little during the week. A lot a time heading off alone and not always diving into the work. On Friday during the fire tunnel prayer time, this youth declared that they had been depressed and that God had taken it away. I thought it was great, but you never can tell on things like that. Well, the student’s mom told us that since we’ve been back her youth is completely different at home. Respectful, doing what is asked, and simply pleasing to be around. A major change that both her and her husband noticed.

To me that’s awesome. May it continue.

God loves to minister to and bless His people, but even more so when his people are willing to head out and serve others.